Wraiths


Wraiths are the spirits of those who died with unfinished business in this world, often a simple grudge against all who still live. Wraiths have a connection to the site of their death or burial and often patrol these areas. They are not mere apparitions, but tangible beings that wield very solid, deadly swords. Some wraiths can be spoken to and even negotiated with, if the tie binding them to this earth is something specific like duty or revenge. Most wraiths are implacable embodiments of wrath that must be slain, like any other breed of monster.

You encounter wraiths in Chapter 1 during the quest In the Claws of Madness . During Chapter 2, they spawn regularly at night when you enter the burned village outside Vergen. They also spawn while you investigate the Dwarven Catacombs in the course of completing Death Symbolized and (on Iorveth’s route) With Flickering Heart. You can summon them infinitely in the basement of Malget’s house if you light the candles in an incorrect sequence. Finally, you must fight a series of infinitely respawning wraiths during the Chapter 1 quest Melitele’s Heart and the Chapter 2 quest (on Roche’s route) The Blood Curse .

Wraiths appear to fly just above the ground, but they can still trigger traps. They are swift enemies and are best fought with light attacks. Be careful if you riposte their blows, as the wraith may prove quicker than you. Wraiths are very vulnerable to Aard, which knocks them from the air and gives you an opening to attack while they’re helpless. You can also easily set a wraith aflame, making them vulnerable to Igni, dragon’s dream, and dancing stars. Wraiths take extra damage from specter oil. Be sure to oil your blade before you settle in to fight a great swarm of wraiths. Read the book Wraiths: Fear and Trembling to gain knowledge of wraiths.

Wraiths have only one unique drop material, the essence of death. You must give this material to Anezka as part of completing the quest Melitele’s Heart in Chapter 1. In a standard game, it is only used to craft magic wraps but should still be stockpiled since it contains the rare alchemical substance fulgur. In Dark mode, you use essence of death to craft the silver sword Virgin in Chapter 2.

Bruxae

In terms of mythology, the bruxa is a wholly separate creature from the wraith. She is a form of female vampire that can assume the guise of a beautiful woman. When she feeds, however, she becomes bestial and terrifying. Bruxae usually take lovers that fall under their power and willingly supply their blood, until they waste away and die. When threatened, they can blind and deafen foes with the terrible force of their screeching.

In The Witcher 2 , though, the bruxa is a variant of wraith. She has the same characteristics, shares a similar appearance, and even drops the same types of materials upon death. Bruxae usually, but not always, have more vitality than the average wraith when they appear. They attack with swords, using the wraiths’ same one-two thrust. You can read the book Bruxae—Eulogists of Death to learn more about bruxae.

You can encounter a powerful and devious pack of bruxae in the course of completing the quest Little Sisters . You can also encounter bruxae spawning alongside wraiths in Chapter 3, when you explore the areas where the quest The Secrets of Loc Muinne takes place.

Knight Wraiths

These creatures appear only in Chapter 2, inhabiting the cursed battlefield that lies between Vergen and the Kaedweni Camp. Knight wraiths are soldiers caught up in the blood curse of Sabrina Glevissig, forced to repeat the events of the Battle of Brenna forever until the curse is broken. Knight wraiths fight like the soldiers and knights they once were and have a basically humanoid form. They are more resistant to knockdown than ordinary wraiths and bruxae but otherwise share all of the same characteristics and drops.

Knight wraiths can be fought exactly as you’d fight a sword-wielding human opponent. Individual knight wraiths are not dangerous, but they can spawn infinitely on the cursed battlefield and it’s difficult to kill them more quickly than they spawn. When you leave the cursed battlefield on Iorveth’s route in Chapter 2, knight wraiths and regular wraiths pour out behind you. It’s best to fight them with the help of the Scoia’tael troop that camps nearby.